Enrique Morente

Enrique Morente Cotelo was born in Granada on 25 December 1941, in the historic Albaicín quarter. On 10 February 1980, he married the dancer Aurora Carbonell, known as La Pelota, in Madrid. This union produced Estrella, Soleá and José Enrique, all three of whom have followed in the footsteps of their elders.

With no family background in flamenco, Enrique Morente began singing at the age of 16 in festivals throughout Spain and in Madrid's tablaos: El Figón de Santiago, Las Cuevas de Nemesio, Café de Chinitas and Zambra, where he met and mixed with established figures such as Manolo de Huelva, Pepe de la Matrona, Rafael Romero, Pericón de Cádiz, Juan Varea, Perico del Lunar, Bernardo de los Lobitos and Rosa Durán. In 1967 and 1968 he recorded his first two albums with the guitarists Félix de Utrera, Cante flamenco, and Niño Ricardo, Cantes Antiguos del Flamenco, in which he demonstrated a great knowledge of classical flamenco singing as well as an original vocal personality. Several of the styles featured on these recordings were later included in the historic Hispavox anthologies: Soleares, Siguiriyas, Malagueñas, Tonás-Deblas and Martinetes, Romances and Alboreás. From those early years to the present day, Enrique Morente's discography is filled with some 24 great albums.

In addition to his own discography, Enrique Morente has lent his voice to a long list of compilations and collaborations with flamenco musicians and other genres such as contemporary music, jazz, rock and pop: Antonio Robledo (Armin Janssen), Andrés Batista, Curro de Jerez, Gualberto, Perico del Lunar (son), Manolo Sanlúcar, Nina Corti, El Bola, Rafael Riqueni, La Barbería del Sur, Juan Carlos Romero, Chano Domínguez, Perico Sambeat, Juan Manuel Cañizares, Pepe Habichuela, Juan Habichuela, Pedro Sierra, Niño Josele, Orquesta Andalusí de Tetuán, Omar Faruk, Lagartija Nick, Señor Chinarro, Amaral, Chambao and Los Planetas, among many others. Enrique Morente has toured Spain, most European countries, North and South America, North Africa and the Middle East, India, Japan and Australia. He has given recitals in the main theatres of countless cities around the world: London, Paris, New York, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Washington, Amsterdam, Rome, Cairo, Amman, Berlin, Moscow, Sydney... It is impossible to estimate the number of performances he has given, but it is possible to say that since the early eighties his appearances have taken the form of a concert, either solo or accompanied by his group. Thus, through flamenco singing, Enrique Morente has become the greatest exponent of the genre in Spain and one of our most important musical ambassadors for Spain beyond our borders.